4 Things Book Clubs would like writers to know
Writers spend a lot of time talking to other writers. We have to. They’re the only people who understand the[…]
Read moreA Blog for Readers and Writers of Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction
Writers spend a lot of time talking to other writers. We have to. They’re the only people who understand the[…]
Read moreThere are so many terrific mystery series, but there’s always room for more in a well rounded mystery reader’s to be read pile. Here are some favorites.
Read moreThere is more than one way to write a book, or better stated, to conceive a book. However, outlining is often given a harsh shake of the head. Not creative enough. Constraining.
Recently I asked a number of writers why they felt this way. More to the point, I asked them what they meant by outlining.
Read moreLast week at the Golden Crown Literary Society’s annual conference my book, The Disappearance of Lindy James, won a Goldie for the[…]
Read moreTHE WOMAN UNDERWATER by Penny Goetjen To be released 7.26.22 MICHELE: I had the privilege of reading an ARC of[…]
Read moreNo one gets murdered in my new novel. It’s a mainstream story, with plenty of action and fun. Just no[…]
Read moreUnless they can generate awareness in potential book buyers, self-published authors may not sell many books. here a few easy and inexpensive ways to bring awareness to your work.
Read moreThe key to writing enduring stories is to create real characters who feel real emotions in real situations–that you’ve imagined. Next time you’re not sure how to write a scene from the inside out, try one of these 5 acting exercises and get in character.
Read moreI’ve been working on a stand-alone mystery for a while now. Quite a while, actually. Maybe too long. But, because it is the only book that will feature my protagonist, everything I write about her seems very important. Very. It’s made me think about books that I love and why. I keep coming back to the notion that what a character values most is the driving theme in those stories. I’m a big fan of police procedurals, especially British and Irish one. Tana French, Elizabeth George, Peter Robinson, and Ann Cleeves’ series all have heroes who are driven to pursue justice for their victims. Their stories, the particulars, are all secondary to that theme. Louise Penny’s cast of characters seeks a sense of belonging, while preserving their identities as strong individuals. Thrillers, traditional mysteries, and cozies are all based on what the protagonist values. James Patterson’s Alex Cross. Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone. Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake series features a protagonist who is trying to save the family business, which will save the family.Justice. Belonging. Family. Values. During my thirty-plus years practicing family law I learned what people value most becomes apparent when they are getting divorced. Most people are terrified about losing the family they love, as they know it, even if they are the one pursuing the divorce. Sometimes, a parent who has only exhibited a casual interest in his children will transform into the parent of the year. Other people mourn the loss of in-laws who have become family to them, even though they had complained about their prolonged visits. Then, there is the loss of “stuff,” which often boils down to the battle of “tools and jewels.” As soon as he starts touting the exorbitant amounts he paid for her jewelry, she demands an accounting of all of those “fancy-ass tools you bought yourself.” Possessions become symbols of what a spouse values and is about to lose. Loss. The threat that one is about to lose that which he or she values most must lurk beneath all of the events in a story, just as it does in real life. If your character doesn’t care enough about what’s going on in a plot, it may be that’s because you haven’t given him reason to care. Values are our reasons to care. If your character doesn’t have them, your readers won’t care any more than he does. What values do you find most compelling in stories?
Read moreWhen you’re a mystery writer, you’re always trying to figure out why people do what they do. Sometimes you can[…]
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